Vance's Fantastic Tap Dictionary
O - Sp

Index   [A-B]   [C - E]    [F - N]   [O - Sp]   [Sq - Z]

Oblique Diagonally downstage or upstage to the left or right.
Off Beat Musically, an unaccented beat.  In tap, however, may refer to some basic rhythms.
A. Measure Count Movement      
and Flat tap L fwd (no wt) [A]
1 Rest
and Step L bk to R ft
2 Step R (to R side)
and Repeat A
3
and
4
Single Off Beat:  In actuality a Flap Ball Change.
Double Off Beat: A variation of the single:
a 1 Flap R fwd
and Step L fwd
a Step R fwd
2 Scuff L heel fwd
One Same as a Step (from the "old school").
Over the Top A flash step consisting of a leap over the foot:
1 1 Step R bk (diag. bk to R side)
and Toe tap L (XF of R)
2 Leap over L, landing on R
3 Step L  bk (diag. bk to L side)
and Toe tap R  (XF of L)
4 Leap over R, landing on L
Paddle Step Could pertain to numerous movements associated with the Soft Shoe. Normally executed in a turn but could be executed in place or traveling to the side.
1 1 Step L (to L side)
and 2 Ball change R-L
and 3 Ball change R-L
and 4 Ball change R-L
   Double Paddle Turn:
1 1 Step L (to L side)
and a Flap R fwd
2 Step L
and a Flap R fwd
3 Step L
and a Flap R fwd
4 Step L
Parallel Travel Any form of travel from one side of the stage to the other; originally applied to movements involving the pivoting on the heels and toes of one or both feet applying an inward and outward motion.
Patter A series of small steps executed very rapidly.
Pickup A hopping back brush step movement: With the weight on one foot, extend the other foot in the air, usually to the rear, executing a back brush with the supporting foot, landing on the ball of the same foot. (Two sounds).
Pickup Change: Same as a pickup but landing on the opposite foot. This movement is sometimes preceded by a Shuffle.
Double Pickup:
1 Brush R bk
and a Pickup change L to R
2 Step L
Double Pickup with Heel Drops:
a Brush R bk
1 a Pickup change L to R
and Step L
a Drop R heel
2 Drop L heel
Another movement sometimes referred to as a pick-up step:
8 Hop L
and a Shuffle R fwd
1 Hop L
Pigeon Toes Same as a Parallel Travel.
Pirouette A ballet term which applies to a turn.
Pivot A pivot always has reference to a turn or any part of a turn as executed on one or both feet.
Polka A Bohemian folk dance in 2/4 time which originated in the 1830's and became popular in all countries of central and Eastern Europe; often danced as a ballroom dance.
Primary Accent The first beat of a measure of music.
Pull This term has been used for many various movements but basically represents a sliding back on one or both feet. The generally accepted term for this movement is Slide. Some however, have used it with reference to a Draw while others have used the term for a back Brush.
Pullback The basic term "Pullback" seems to have been replaced many years ago by the term "Pickup" inasmuch as they are one and the same. In some instances, a Pullback has been referred to mean the same as a Double Pickup and a Swap Pullback is the same as a Pickup Change.
Push Beat Same as an Off Beat: An accented tap on the "and" count in an eighth-note rhythm, with a rest on the count of "1."
Railroad A pushing movement of the feet back and forth on the floor, alternating from foot to foot, to produce the sound effects like the steam engine of a train. Although this movement has been used in various forms, it usually is executed with heel drops much in the manner of a Chug.
Rattle Same as a Shuffle: A front brush followed by a back brush; may be executed to the front, side or back.
Rhythm A symmetrical and regularly recurrent grouping of tones according to accent and time value.
Rhythm Buck A modified form of buck dancing first introduced around 1910 when Ragtime and Syncopation became the vogue in music. This resulted in more complex rhythm patterns for the dancers compared to the simple rhythms of the first forms of buck dancing.
Riff A two-sound movement combining a forward brush and heel scuff on the same foot: Brush R ball fwd, Scuff R heel fwd (or the reverse). This is often followed by a heel drop on the opposite foot which totals 3 sounds. A Riff in itself, however, only contains the first two sounds described.
Riff Walks A walking movement employing riffs:
Three Tap Riff Walk:
a Tap R ball bk Riff
1 1 Dig R heel fwd
2 Drop R ball
a Tap L ball bk Riff
3 Dig L heel fwd
4 Drop L ball
Four Tap Riff Walk:
a Tap R ball bk Riff
1 1 Scuff R heel fwd
and Dig R heel fwd
2 Drop R ball
a Tap L ball bk Riff
3 Scuff L heel fwd
and Dig L heel fwd
4 Drop L ball
Five Tap Riff Walk:
a Tap R ball bk Riff
1 1 Scuff R heel fwd
and Dig R heel fwd
a Drop R ball
2 Drop R heel
a Tap L ball bk Riff
3 Scuff L heel fwd
and Dig L heel fwd
a Drop L ball
4 Drop L heel
Changeable Five Tap Riff Walk:
a Tap R ball bk Riff
1 1 Scuff R heel fwd
and Drop L heel
a Dig R heel fwd
2 Drop R ball
a Tap L ball bk Riff
3 Scuff L heel fwd
and Drop R heel
a Dig L heel fwd
4 Drop L ball
Riffle A tap combination of a riff and a back brush:
and Tap R ball bk
a Scuff R heel fwd
1 Brush R bk
Ritard A musical term indicating a gradually slackening tempo.
Roll Normally a reference to a Nerve Roll of 4 or 5 sounds, but could refer to a double shuffle to the rear, or a Cramproll.
Rolling off the Log Same as Falling Off a Log:  A twisting movement similar to a grapevine, normally traveling to the side.
Routine A complete dance, usually consisting of two standard choruses of 32 measures each - for a total of 64 measures.
Rubber Legs A form of movement usually associated with eccentric or comedy dancing wherein the legs are used in a loosely exaggerated fashion.
Rumba A dance of African-Cuban origin usually in a 2/4 time; best adaptable to tap in a 4/4 time.
Samba A dance of South American origin danced in a 2/4 time.
Schottische A dance somewhat like the Polka; Scotch origin.
Scoot A combination of a hop and slide forward, similar to a Chug.
Scuff A heel movement executed in the same manner as a forward brush wherein the back edge of the heel strikes the floor in a pendulum like movement.
Scuffle A tap movement of two sounds executed in the same manner and rhythmical pattern as Shuffles but accented differently: Scuff R heel fwd, Brush R ball bk.
Segue Proceeding from one musical number to another without stopping.
Seven Tap term of many years ago. A tap combination employing seven sounds; Shuffle Step, Shuffle Ball change.
Shading The subtle accenting of tap sounds by the force with which the various movements are executed. Shading consists of the variation of rhythm produced by either the temporary shifting of metrical emphasis or the varying degrees in volume and pitch of the sounds, or both.
Shag A ballroom dance of the 1930's, consisting of a hopping movement on one foot and then the other: With the R ft extended in the air to the R side, swing the R ft into into the L ft, landing on the R ft and simultaneously swinging the L ft in the air to the left side, followed by a hop on the R ft. Repeat this movement on the opposite side.
Shim Sham An early tap combination that endured many years and is still used extensively. Shuffle Step R, Shuffle Step L, Shuffle Ball change R-L, Shuffle Step R.  Repeat and Reverse.
Variation (known as a "Vaudeville Time Step"):
8 Heel tap R fwd
1 and 1 Brush step R bk
2 Heel tap L fwd
and 3 Brush step L bk
4 Heel tap R fwd
and 5 Brush step R bk
and Step L
6 Heel tap R fwd
and 7 Brush step R bk
Shuffle A forward brush followed by a back brush to the front, side or back, executed rapidly in a 16th note rhythm and counted "a 1".

Front Shuffle:
The basic "Shuffle" - with the feet in line with the hips and the toes directly forward, flex the R knee up in front of body -- lower the leg, striking the ball of the foot against the floor in a forward motion. At this point, the L or supporting leg is straight, wherein the R ft is straight and extended forward of the body. As you flex the R knee, strike the ball of the R ft on the floor in a backward motion. The shuffle should be executed slightly forward of the supporting foot. The free foot should always remain in front of the supporting leg by flexing the knee forward and up on the back brush.
Side Shuffle:
Extend the right foot to the R side, toes are in line and there is no turnout of the R ft.
Back Shuffle:
With the weight on the left foot and knee slightly bent, extend the R ft bk with the toe turned out. From this position, execute the shuffle on the side of the big toe.
Double Shuffle:
Two Back Shuffles ("8 and a 1").
Shuffle, Leap A forward shuffle on the free foot leaping forward to the same foot.
Shuffle, Step A shuffle with the free foot, followed by a step on same foot. Once referred to as a "Three".
Single One tap sound; such as a Step.
Single Travel Pivot alternately on heel and then ball of one foot, dragging the other foot to the side.
Sissoné A springing into the air in a split like fashion creating a very effective illusion when executed at the Downstage oblique: Jump from a closed position to an open position with legs extended front and back as in a split, landing on one foot and closing in back with the opposite foot.
Six A tap combination containing six sounds. (Shuffle Step R fwd, Shuffle Step L fwd) This is a term of the "old school" of tap terminology. A six, followed by a seven (Shuffle Step, Shuffle Ball change) was used extensively in the earlier days of tap.
Skid A sliding or pushing of the ball of the free foot forward, producing a swishing sound, followed by a heel drop on the same foot. Same as a Chug.
Slam A flat tap involving no weight - leg is straight and the movement is exaggerated.
Slap This word has been used to describe various movements; A Brush R fwd, Tap R fwd (no wt) is sometimes referred to as a Slap; can also mean an emphasized back brush. The word is also often is used to indicate a Flap (Brush, Step with weight). In the "old school" of tap terminology, a Flap was called a Slap; the term "Flap" came into being in the mid-thirties. Slap has also been used to describe the hitting of any part of the body.
Slide A pushing of the free foot forward or in any desired direction with or without weight. A slide may he executed from numerous approaches. (See Draw and Flea Hop).
Slip A slide forward. This is an old term and is rarely ever used.
Slow Drag A very slow 4/4 time or Soft Shoe tempo.
Snake Hips A form of rolling hip movements used extensively in the 1920's by burlesque and shimmy dancers.
Soft Shoe A dance performed in a slow 4/4 time; originally was danced with sand on the floor but was replaced with metal taps many years ago. The most common step or movement to be associated with soft shoe dancing is the Essence.
Spank Same as a Back Brush.
Spot Step A step, movement or phrase executed in place.
Spread Eagle An awkward step similar to a Graboff:  Shuffle Leap R, BackFlap L.
Spring Same as a Leap: A transfer of the weight from one foot to the other with an exaggerated lift.

Index
[A-B]   [C - E]    [F - N]   [O - Sp]   [Sq - Z]

TheatreDance Home Page